Schitt's Creek Star Emily Hampshire Issues Apology for Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Halloween Costume
'Schitt's Creek' star, Emily Hampshire, expresses remorse for her Halloween costume choice as she dresses up as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, acknowledging her insensitivity and lack of awareness
Emily Hampshire. Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
Emily Hampshire, former star of Schitt's Creek, is issuing an apology following her decision to dress up as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard for Halloween. In a statement posted on Instagram on November 1st, the 42-year-old actress expressed remorse for her thoughtless and insensitive actions.
She expressed her deep regret and shame for sharing something so awful. The topic of domestic abuse should never be taken lightly, as it involves real people facing real issues. Hampshire sincerely apologizes for her actions and promises to improve in the future. She has since removed the photos of herself impersonating Depp, including the tattoos and accessories that alluded to his ongoing defamation case with his ex-wife Heard. In the images, her friend pretended to cry and wore a white top similar to the one Heard wore during her emotional testimony in May 2022.
One Reddit user criticized the presence of a plastic turd in Hampshire's jacket pocket, which was seen as a reference to Depp's previous claim of finding "human fecal matter" on his bed in 2016 after a dispute with Heard. Additionally, the Canadian actress posed with a bottle of wine, which some social media users interpreted as a symbolic representation of Heard's allegation that Depp sexually assaulted her with a liquor bottle in 2015.
Amber Heard, Johnny Depp. Jason Merritt/Getty Images
One X (formerly Twitter) user expressed their disapproval, stating, "Continuing to showcase the costumes a year and a half later is truly reprehensible. @emilyhampshire evidently felt compelled to partake in this disturbing behavior."
Another Reddit user expressed a comparable view, stating, "This is incredibly disheartening. Furthermore, even if it wasn't offensive, this costume is incredibly outdated."
In February 2019, Depp filed a lawsuit against Heard, his former spouse from 2015 to 2017, following her December 2018 op-ed published in The Washington Post. Within the article, Heard identified herself as a survivor of domestic violence, although she did not explicitly mention Depp.
Following the jury's verdict in Depp's favor, the actor expressed his deep gratitude for having his life restored in a comprehensive statement. He closed the message with the resolute statement, "Truth never dies."
Depp's triumph in court occurred three years after a judge ruled against him in his libel lawsuit against The Sun in 2020. The lawsuit was initiated by Depp against the U.K. publication over an article published in April 2018, which referenced numerous allegations made by Heard regarding 14 instances of abuse. In October 2020, the judge concluded that The Sun's accusations against Depp were largely accurate.
Depp and Heard reached a settlement for their defamation lawsuit in December 2022. Heard, in an Instagram statement, described it as a challenging decision. She emphasized that she did not willingly opt for this situation. In her defense, she stated that her life was completely shattered. Heard also highlighted the severe backlash and mistreatment she experienced on social media, emphasizing how it reflects the disturbing re-victimization of women who come forward.
